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Monday, June 7, 2010

Query Letter Contest

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I absolutely, positively adore working with my agent, Rebecca Strauss, at McIntosh & Otis. Rebecca is an amazing advocate for my work, a wise advisor, and a great reader. Plus, she has an incredible sense of humor and an infectious laugh, so getting the chance to chat with her is always fun. Rebecca pulled my query letter out of the slush pile, took a chance on me, and has put so much time and hard work into getting STAY where it is today. I am eternally grateful.

Plus, Rebecca has some great clients, and I love having the opportunity to connect with them too! Two of Rebecca's clients, Corinne and Wendy, have agreed to host blog tour stops for STAY. In honor of STAY's publication week, Rebecca is offering to critique a query letter and the first two pages of a manuscript for one lucky writer.

To enter, leave a comment on this post. For two more entries, leave a comment on Corinne's post and Wendy's post. One comment per person per post, please. On Friday, we'll announce the winner. You don't have to have a finished manuscript to enter, although if you do, all the better.

If your commenting profile doesn't link to an e-mail address where we can reach you if you win, make sure to either leave your e-mail address in comments, or e-mail me (info at allielarkinwrites dot com)after you leave a comment on this blog, with Query Contest in the subject line and your comment name in the body of the e-mail.

To learn more about query letters, check out this how-to guide at AgentQuery.com.

Rebecca Strauss

An Agent at McIntosh & Otis, Inc., Rebecca is eager to work with both debut and established authors. She is looking to add to her list of diverse and compelling projects and is particularly seeking non-fiction, literary and commercial fiction, women’s fiction, mysteries, memoirs, humor and pop culture. As the Director of Subsidiary Rights, she continues to build on her prior experience with Trident Media Group, as well as her time at Sony Pictures where she was a book scout and development assistant. Rebecca earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.

First, I must say that I LOVE the cover. It's well done. Having Joe as the central image also gives us a hint that he is an important character. The little tage hanging off the title is wonderfully inspired.I think that having Joe in the story was a great idea because it adds something unique to an otherwise basic circumstance, and introduces an element of the unknown to the narrative. Joe is the wild card that both defines and unsettles the protagonists life. And no two dogs are the same. I love the humor in the pitch, as well, and the way Larkin captures the essential variables of her narrative.I am about to graduate from an MFA program, and part of that residency is the opportunity to meet with a real agent. I've been struggling with my letter for weeks. Thanks for posting the contest and please enter me. Good Luck with the launch!

Allie, you won’t trip, your dress strap will hold, and the weeping angel statue aliens are at my house and bound and determined to stay put until I sacrifice a virgin or male that refuses to put the toilet seat down. Your journey is just beginning and thank you for letting us tag along…thanks for the contest too.

Congratulations on your much deserved success! I loved that your query actually described what the story was about - instead of vague words like "fate," "destiny," and such. I only hope that I could craft such a great elevator pitch someday. Can't wait to read your book!

OH Ugh! I came back to your site so I could tweet the blog and give your book some promotion, but my comment isn't showing up. I am sorry if for some reason it shows up twice in some weird, delayed cyber problem. I commented on all three blogs though. Sometimes Typepad has difficulty with authentication. I'm so excited for you! tiiajones@yahoo.com

Thanks for the opportunity. I'd love to win a crit from the awesome Ms. Rebecca. Congratulations on the publication of Stay. You certainly have a well-written query and the premise sounds very intriguing. I have no doubts that the book will do well in sales!

We'd love to enter this contest. (Hopefully, the deadline hasn't passed.) Our query has been out in "query oblivion" for a while now and we're anxious to hear some feedback on what works and even on what doesn't :)

I spend the majority of my time making up stories about people who don't really exist. I'm lucky that the people I love call this creative instead of crazy. Dutton published my first novel, STAY, in 2010, and it's now a Plume paperback!